set off from another thread...ive always been a fan of these aircraft.
there is a group ( somewhere ) that has a couple of restored aircraft that they fly around and do mini shows...
they were awhile ago in this area.
they have a restored "flying fortress", a b-24 and a f-4 corsair i think i remember.
the remarkable thing that hit me as i walked around the fortress ( heavy bomber at the time ) is that the plane is so tiny.
im no expert but the thing seemed to be the size of a small private jet...
nothing like a commercial jet these days.
the b-24 seemed like a big can of tuna fish. empty inside, no insulation, no nothing... the noise must have been unbelievable.
great kudos to the men who piloted these craft in the war.
damn, it must have been incredibly dangerous and difficult.
these men were real heroes.
if you ever get the chance...check this out... they do come around every few years.
They come to the Worcester Airport in MA every year during the summer. Brought my boys last year. Really cool to walk through the B-17 and B-24 and see the other planes. I can't imagine what it was like to fly in one during a mission. You can go up in one for about $25 IIRC at the end of the day. I might do it next year. It's not the Commemorative Airforce though...I can't think of the name right now....
Go to Oshkosh, WI for the EAA's annual show called Air Venture. You won't regret it. I grew up about 25 miles north and went to the show many times. WWII airplanes galore. Actually everything to do with airplanes except (thankfully) airlines. There is everything from homemade hang gliders powered by lawn mower engines (not really kidding) to something absurd like an SR-71 (not anymore of course) and everything in between.
Last time I was at the show they had simulated air races like at the Reno Air Races and Chuck Yeager was still flying, probably 15 years ago. Most of the planes are highly modified P-51 Mustangs and are loud and amazingly fast for propellor powered aircraft.
Go to that show if you possibly can. It's worth it to the aviation freaks.
When I still lived in Sacto, I saw a B29 flyover one time. I later found out that there are two flying examples left. You are not sneaking up on anyone in one of those. The sound of it was unreal.
I love military aircraft. There is an awesome museum right next to Bradley Airport (near Hartford CT), the New England Air Museum. They've got old stuff all the way to modern stuff. I thought my son was going to pass out when he saw an F-14 in the flesh. They have a couple of open cockpit days every year, which is pretty cool for the kids. Timely thread: my 9yr old son and I are leaving in a couple of hours to go to a sleepover on the Intrepid with his cub scout troop. They have an SR-71 (all time fave for me) on deck which is breathtaking.
You should give a read to The Wild Blue: The Men and Boys Who Flew the B-24s Over Germany. Excellent book about the experience of being a bomber pilot.
Originally Posted by SteveP
set off from another thread...ive always been a fan of these aircraft.
there is a group ( somewhere ) that has a couple of restored aircraft that they fly around and do mini shows...
they were awhile ago in this area.
they have a restored "flying fortress", a b-24 and a f-4 corsair i think i remember.
the remarkable thing that hit me as i walked around the fortress ( heavy bomber at the time ) is that the plane is so tiny.
im no expert but the thing seemed to be the size of a small private jet...
nothing like a commercial jet these days.
the b-24 seemed like a big can of tuna fish. empty inside, no insulation, no nothing... the noise must have been unbelievable.
great kudos to the men who piloted these craft in the war.
damn, it must have been incredibly dangerous and difficult.
these men were real heroes.
if you ever get the chance...check this out... they do come around every few years.
I've always loved the P-47. The bombers really were from another era. B-17 was unreal. Non-pressurized, rattled like all hell. Had to crawl through the tunnel to get to the tail gunner.
i used to recall there was an annual show at the van nuys airport here in LA. they'd have some current and vintage aircraft there. i always was curious about it but there was no internet back then and i'd only find out about it after the fact.
now that i think about it, my kids would love to check these out. is there some calendar online for these types of events?
The Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos (down the peninsula a ways from SF) has an astounding collection. Definitely worth a trip. My grandfather flew P-47s in WWII over Europe and it's one of my favorites as well.
I don't know which one it was but a WWII era bomber flew in to the Dorp county airport a few years ago. I was outside and saw it go over. It seemed to be going so slow that you had to look away and then back again to see if it moved.
My Dad was held in forced labor in Germany during that war and he said the daylight bombing raids with the big planes lumbering along and the fighters all around reminded him of flies on cattle. It is beyond my comprehension how someone could be brave enough to fly missions like that.
Last weekend was the annual Planes of Fame airshow in Chino, CA. Missed it this year, but it's always pretty wonderful. The airshow/field I've always wanted to visit is the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in NY; their opening weekend is next weekend, May 18th. It's mostly WWI-era aircraft, but those are actually my faves. Open-cockpit ftw.
Pooch, the fact that I have the pleasure of knowing you is a remnant of the fact that the ball turret on a B-17 was survivable after some twenty odd missions.
My dad never really talked about the times when "things got busy", but he told me some really funny stories you want to hear, especially when they took the WAACs up for a flight one morning.
SteveP -->> I suspect you are referring to the old Confederate Airforce..now Commemorative Airforce; Home
Yep, almost certainly. These are the guys that are best at keeping 'em flying.
Originally Posted by Saab2000
Go to Oshkosh, WI for the EAA's annual show called Air Venture. You won't regret it. I grew up about 25 miles north and went to the show many times. WWII airplanes galore. Actually everything to do with airplanes except (thankfully) airlines. There is everything from homemade hang gliders powered by lawn mower engines (not really kidding) to something absurd like an SR-71 (not anymore of course) and everything in between.
Last time I was at the show they had simulated air races like at the Reno Air Races and Chuck Yeager was still flying, probably 15 years ago. Most of the planes are highly modified P-51 Mustangs and are loud and amazingly fast for propellor powered aircraft.
Go to that show if you possibly can. It's worth it to the aviation freaks.
Oshkosh is a must at least once. It has been many years since I have been. Unless things have changed I would recommend going with a pilot--last time I was there some of the experimental lots and the flight line were only accessible by those with a pilots license and those with them.
Saab, we must have been at the same show--I think the SR-71 only came once. Sat at the end of the runway and watched the concorde lift off right over my head. Lots of other amazing stuff.
The craziest shit, however, is the day before when they are landing 4 at a time on the same runway. No call numbers here for tower control--chatter is "red and white citabria you follow brown EZ" "Blue piper cub you follow red and white citabria" and so on. If you don't know the procedure, you are told to get out. It's a mad house, so bring a radio if you can.
I am a fan. Recent disappointing visit to the Smithsonian air and space museum. However the collection down the road at Wright Patterson is the best I have seen with my own eyes. Dayton, OH. Free.
Pooch, the fact that I have the pleasure of knowing you is a remnant of the fact that the ball turret on a B-17 was survivable after some twenty odd missions.
My dad never really talked about the times when "things got busy", but he told me some really funny stories you want to hear, especially when they took the WAACs up for a flight one morning.
set off from another thread...ive always been a fan of these aircraft.
there is a group ( somewhere ) that has a couple of restored aircraft that they fly around and do mini shows...
they were awhile ago in this area.
they have a restored "flying fortress", a b-24 and a f-4 corsair i think i remember.
the remarkable thing that hit me as i walked around the fortress ( heavy bomber at the time ) is that the plane is so tiny.
im no expert but the thing seemed to be the size of a small private jet...
nothing like a commercial jet these days.
the b-24 seemed like a big can of tuna fish. empty inside, no insulation, no nothing... the noise must have been unbelievable.
great kudos to the men who piloted these craft in the war.
damn, it must have been incredibly dangerous and difficult.
these men were real heroes.
if you ever get the chance...check this out... they do come around every few years.
You're thinking of the Collings Foundation The Collings Foundation - Preserving Living Aviation History for Future Generations They 'barnstorm' the U.S. each year with their bombers and fighters. They have come to Spokane several times in the past. They 'announce' their arrival with a low-level flyover of the city. You can really hear the distinctive sounds of those big round engines and their exhaust pipes barking. I often wonder what the noise of 1,000 of those planes would be like, thinking of the thousand planes bombing raids of WWII.
About 10 years ago I bought a ride in the Collings B-17. It was an hour of fun, noise and much greater respect for those whose 'office' was a bomber.
The B-17 that played the Memphis Belle is at a local airport this weekend, offering rides and tours of the plane. She sounds really great as she passes over!
Re: the Museum thread, I have been fortunate to see some of the museums and fine art that was talked about. One afternoon when visiting Munich I needed a change from viewing art, wandered into the technology museum, and became enthralled with the BF-109.
Recently, I attended a get-together more local and in the host's rather large garage was this:
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ww-2 planes
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Originally Posted by SteveP
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